Resurrection Life

We rejoice that a number of people declared their faith commitment to Christ Jesus by being baptized on Easter Sunday.

Let’s pray for those who made their public declaration to follow Christ.  May they personally experience the fullness of life promised by Christ, living in Christ and He living in them.

Those making such a commitment include:

• two young adults in Victoria
• a number of people in Nanaimo
• the mother of the pastor of the Sihhu Alliance Church in Taiwan

Praise and Prayer

• Please pray for grace and help as we apply for documents to be notarized at the Taiwan Visa Office in Vancouver tomorrow (April 19).  This is the initial step in renewing our Taiwanese resident permits.
• Praise the Lord that the Baozhong Alliance Church Sunday School children were excited about distributing Easter eggs in the community and telling people about Christ’s resurrection.  Community responses ranged from joyful acceptance, to being ignored, to some firmly refusing the Easter gift.  The children are discussing with church leaders how to make future church events more effective.

Annual Pilgrimage

Please pray for the people of central Taiwan, including those living in Baozhong Township.  (In the above map, Baozhong is the most northern coloured town, and the name is spelled using a different romanization system.)

The very large annual Matsu (“goddess of the sea”) pilgrimage will be held this year during April 9 – 17. An idol of Matsu will be carried in the procession in a sedan chair throughout the trip.

Typically, many thousands of pilgrims will walk from a temple in Taichung City’s Tachia District to a temple in Chiayi County’s Hsinkang Township (in the Beigang area), a round trip total of about 335 km (210 miles).

They are scheduled to get to Hsinkang on April 11. On the 12th they will have a special ceremony in Hsinkang and then start their return walk on the 13th, arriving back in Tachia on the 17th.

• Please pray that God will open the eyes of the Taiwanese to realize that “gods” made by human hands are not “gods” at all!
• Pray for the witness of the Christians of Taiwan to the truth that the only true God has sent His only Son to bear their sin on the cross that they might have eternal life.
• The pilgrimage this year overlaps with Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter. Pray for the efforts to proclaim the gospel to people in the Matsu pilgrimage.

(Thanks To George McFall for compiling this information)

Praise and Prayer

• Pray for the preparations for Good Friday and Easter services, as well as for the outreach events planned during the Easter season.  Pray for God’s Spirit to reveal Himself to people so that they can discern the truth.
• Praise the Lord!  Lorne was able to obtain an appointment at the Taiwan Visa Office on April 19.  Please pray for grace and help from the agents to process the needed notarizations.

Clear and Bright Festival

This year, Tuesday, April 5 has been designated as “Tomb-Sweeping Day,” also known as the “Clear and Bright Festival.”  It is a national holiday in Taiwan.

The whole family or designated family members will tend the family graves.  The work may be done on the day or on a day prior to the festival.  They will clear the grass and other vegetation off the graves of the ancestors. It is also an opportunity to remember and honor those who have preceded them.  Sometimes a picnic lunch is planned at the family tomb.

The traditional religions include rituals to be performed by the family at the grave.  Some of the actions prescribed are common worship practices.  These include burning of special paper money, burning of incense, and prayers to the spirits of the ancestors.

Christians are encouraged to join their family in respectfully honoring their family history and those who have gone before them.  They are encouraged to share stories about the positive example of the family members.  They usually avoid participating in the worship-like practices.  If there is opportunity, the Christian family members may request to pray prayers of blessing on their family, praying to God through Jesus Christ.

Frequently the request by Christ-followers to limit their participation in this way can lead to family conflict.  Please pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ as they navigate this difficult time with people who are special to them.  Pray for God to give creative verbal expression to their beliefs, helping them to witness well for Christ in these situations.

Praise and Prayer

• Pray for us as we begin preparations for our summer departure to Taiwan.  There are business matters to arrange, people to see, belongings to sort, etc.  Pray for wisdom and energy for the many tasks that need to be accomplished.
• Praise the Lord!  Lorne was able to obtain an appointment at the Taiwan Visa Office on April 19.  Please pray for grace and help from the agents to process the needed notarizations.

“Missed” Events

A few days ago, a very good friend in Taiwan got married.  It was an event I would have attended had I been on that side of the ocean.  Without the opportunity to encourage him through with my presence, I had to be content with sending greetings.

When we are in Taiwan, it is often the opposite.  We miss important family events because we are living and working on the other side of the world.  It is one of the sacrifices that is made in order to give people access to Jesus. We are thankful for family members who “understand” and accept this unusual and uncomfortable reality.

We know that many of you will understand some of the feelings that international workers like us have at those times.  Some of you have “missed” important events because of Covid restrictions, adverse weather,  or other circumstances.  Due to our similar circumstances, we can sympathize with each other.  We can comfort each other.

And, when there is an opportunity to attend an event we will make the effort to be there.  Right?

Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. (1 Pet 3:8)

Praise and Prayer

1. Strategy Meetings for all Taiwanese C&MA pastors and C&MA missionaries serving in Taiwan are being planned for March 28-30. Please pray for those who will lead sessions to have Holy Spirit empowerment as they prepare.
2. Please pray that we will get an appointment at the Taiwan visa office in Vancouver to authenticate documents.  There is high demand for available appointments.

A Partnership First

Yesterday, Mar 20, was a special day.  The Victoria Chinese Alliance Church invited Pastor Joshua Lee of the Baozhong Alliance Church to be the guest speaker. The photo is what we saw when we connected online.

It marks the first time in our international worker career that a church in Canada has heard directly from our coworker about what God is doing in Taiwan.  Pastor Joshua also shared from God’s Word.

Kudos to VicCAC who worked hard to make it happen.  Their work included translating the sharing for the English and Cantonese services. (English service begins about 23:00 and Pastor Joshua’s sharing starts at about 39:00.)

We appreciate those who are partnering with us to share the gospel with the Taiwanese Working Class.  Thank-you for your contribution to the team.

Praise and Prayer

• Strategy Meetings for all Taiwanese C&MA pastors and C&MA missionaries serving in Taiwan are being planned for March 28-30. Please pray for those who will lead sessions to have Holy Spirit empowerment as they prepare.
• Please pray for Rev. Damien Lee as he steps into his new role as Vice President of International Ministries.  Pray for Holy Spirit enabling and good teamwork with other leaders.

Island Life

We are visiting Vancouver Island.  It is a different “island life” than what we experience on the other side of the ocean.  But in both places we appreciate the partnerships that we have.

The past few days we have shared about using teamwork to accomplish the Great Commission work.  Although living on an island, we were never created to be an island.  We were created to be in relationship and to work in harmony with others.

Maybe that is something that we all have sensed during the pandemic protocols.

Maybe that is one reason we are all grateful for the easing of some of the restrictions.

Praise and Prayer

• Taiwanese pastors and leaders have been taking an ‘Alliance History and Thought’ class.  Please pray that as they learn about our international church family God will create a greater passion for cooperation in gospel endeavors.
• Strategy Meetings for all Taiwanese C&MA pastors and C&MA missionaries serving in Taiwan are being planned for March 28-30. Please pray for those who will lead sessions to have Holy Spirit empowerment as they prepare.

Uncertainty

Reasons that people are uncertain include:

• being unsure
• a vague situation
• having doubts
• fear of the future
• a sense of hesitancy
• indecisiveness
• unresolvable stress
• not knowing how ___ will react

James 4:15 instructs us how to live in uncertain times:
“Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.”

Trusting God to direct our steps, we have agreed that ministry in Baozhong Township will be our core assignment as we return to Taiwan this summer.  We have been asked to help the church develop an outreach into the community.

As the Lord desires and directs, we are making plans during uncertain times.  Thank-you for your partnership and prayers as we walk into this adventure.

Praise and Prayer

• Praise the Lord!  Rev. Silas Yang, President of the C&MA in Taiwan, has been released from hospital.  He is rejoicing that God has seen him through this trial.
• Strategy Meetings for all Taiwanese C&MA pastors and C&MA missionaries serving in Taiwan are being planned for March 28-30. Please pray for those who will lead sessions to have Holy Spirit empowerment as they prepare.
• Please pray for the registration process for the ukulele class at Baozhong Alliance Church.  The first lesson is on Saturday, March 12.  Early registrations are all returning students.

Taiwan’s Peace Memorial Day

February 28 is a national holiday in Taiwan.  The day is referred to as Peace Memorial Day.  It is an annual reminder of one of Taiwan’s worst tragedies.

Two years after the end of World War II which ended Japanese rule of the island, there was a protest movement against societal injustices.  The movement was viewed as an uprising and harshly suppressed.  The result was the death of thousands of people.  For many years there was no official recognition that this occurred.

In 1997, the 28th of February was set aside to mark the 228 Incident.  A Peace Park was created in Taipei City and the pictured monument was placed in the park to commemorate the 1947 tragedy.

Each year on Peace Memorial Day the President of Taiwan rings a commemorative bell.  This is followed by the President bowing to family members (descendants) of those who were killed on February 28, 1947. Families also receive certificates exonerating those who until 1995 continued to be black-listed as enemies of the state because of their involvement in the protest.

We all know the importance of acknowledging offences of the past and receiving forgiveness.  This resolution brings a sense of peace and brings healing to the pain and loss that is experienced.

Please pray for continued healing in the hearts of Taiwanese people for pain caused by this and other historical offences.

“O Lord, if you heal me, I will be truly healed;
    if you save me, I will be truly saved.
    My praises are for you alone!”
Jeremiah 17:14 (NLT)

Praise and Prayer

• Thank-you for continued prayers for Rev. Silas Yang, President of the C&MA in Taiwan.  The doctors plan to operate on Wednesday as a final step in his treatment.
• Thank-you for praying for us last week as we took vacation time and visited extended family.  It was very beneficial.
• Please pray for three families being cared for by the Baozhong Alliance Church.  Pray for their loved ones who are struggling for freedom from addictions.  Pray for the family support group that is being established.
• Praise the Lord that a teacher has been found for the Elementary Student Ukulele Class.  The church plans to start new lessons in mid-March. Class.  The church plans to start new lessons in mid-March.

Placeholders

In a local store recently, and saw this aisle.  The bins have been set on the shelves as placeholders.  At some future time, maybe today or another day, the bins will be removed and replaced with items available for purchase.

It is not just stores that use placeholders.  We use them in our lives too.  We don’t like the feeling of emptiness, so we fill in the emptiness with a substitute.

2 Chronicles 12 tells the story of brass shields being substituted for gold ones.  The king did not want the reminder of what was lacking–the close relationship with God and a prosperity that could be his.

In other places in Scripture people substituted rules, or treaties and relationships to fill a sense of lack in their lives.  It may even be a human trend to do so. We substitute other things for what God wants to give us.

Please pray for the Christians in Canada, Taiwan, and worldwide, that we will allow God by the work of the Holy Spirit give us His genuine blessings that are ours in Christ.  May we not be willing to settle for placeholders.

Praise and Prayer

• Please pray that “Gene” will follow through on his decision to receive counselling and help for dealing with his addictions. He has said he is willing to go to the treatment center on Tuesday.
• Pray for Gene’s family to have open hearts to hear and understand the gospel as it is shared with them.
• Please pray Rev. Silas Yang, President of the Taiwan C&MA, as he is in hospital  recovering from emergency medical treatment.  Pray for God’s healing touch.  Pray for his family and his church family to be filled with faith and trust in God during this time.

Happy Lunar New Year

Many countries in East Asia celebrate the Lunar New Year.  Many in North America refer to it as Chinese New Year.  This is probably because it is the most populous country in East Asia, and the Chinese helped those in the West learn about the custom.

There are many resources to help us learn more about the origin and customs of the holiday.  You might want to look at this one.

New Year’s Eve is January 31.
New Year’s Day is February 1.
Lantern Festival is February 15.

We wish each one a Happy Lunar New Year.

We encourage you take the opportunity to wish friends with family origins in East Asia a Happy Lunar New Year.

Praise and Prayer

• Lunar New Year’s Day is February 1 this year.  Most Taiwanese families will hold reunions and have a few days off for recreation and relaxation.  Please pray that believers will have opportunities to share with others about the hope they have in Christ Jesus.
• Please pray for those who have heard about Jesus and His salvation to remember what they have heard.  Pray that God will prompt them to consider making the choice to be a Christ-follower.